Well, a better housing market for one. I would rather sell our home than give it away.
We would also need a very large truck and some hulky men to haul our furniture to the new location. After eight years, we have settled into our first house quite nicely - which means we have a ton of stuff. (Remember the college days, when eveyrthing you owned fit into your car?)
But more importantly, it would take a pretty solid guarantee of improvement. It would take a job that can utilize my husband's mega brains and talent as well as keep him happy and available for his family.
No one tells you in college that work... well... sucks. No matter how much you love what you do, it becomes just work after a while. It eventually gets old. When children become the #1 priority in your life, work is just another pull away. Just another thing nibbling at your time (and sanity).
No one tells you that, if you demostrate a decent work ethic and use your brains, you will eventually land yourself in management. Management, where you do much less (if any) of the actual work you once loved and instead deal with more budgets, reports, and personnel issues that you ever knew existed.
My husband is an awesome worker, detail-oriented and always reliable. And our little family is happy where we are. He is busy at work and always feels that tug of home life pulling at his sleeve, but we're appreciative of what he has and what he is able to provide for us. We are lucky to have a solid income to keep our family comfortable. But sometimes we can't help but wonder what our life would be like downsized.
Could my husband and I both work part time? Could we embark on a journey towards "Equally Shared Parenting"? Could we move out of the city suburbs and into a smaller town where pressures are less and cost of living is cheap? Could we do more for our girl by giving her less material things and more togetherness?
We are open to moving one day... but Atlanta is a wonderful place for us right now. What would it take for us to pick up and move? A guarantee of togetherness. A guarantee of comfort. A guarantee of true happiness. A guarantee of reduced stress. Maybe even a white picket fence.
Does that really exist? Has the competitive capitalist nature of the modern world burned away that utopia?
I really don't know. But I will keep dreaming!
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8 comments:
I'm not sure if it all exists in one life. My husband works full time from home with his own business, and I stay home. We have cut back soooooo much that we really can't cut back anymore. But we are happy - and less stressed. No picket fence though :)
I hope you'll move to the perfect place at the right time. ;) We'll be moving someday too. Not a fun thought though. lol
I'm following from the hop.
ecwrites.blogspot.com
We love dreaming about moving to a smaller town one day, too, but we also think Atlanta is a great place for us right now! LOVE this blog, Julie.
There's definitely something to be said for a simpler life. I'm working toward that, but I'm the only income and the only parent, so simple seems to far away right now.
Hope you get to move one day :)
Came by from Mama Kat's.
We move very frequently because my husband is in the Air Force. Every time we start over in a new town, I think it's a chance to re-evaluate and simplify. To hone in on what matters.
I agree! My family is all about that....FAMILY! Our way of thinking is "Live life to the fullest" cause honestly, we are never guaranteed tomorrow. So yes, a guaranteed time with the most important things in life is really what matters and what a great dream for you. You'll get there. And if that is what it will take to move, then I'm with you on that! Like Justin Bieber says..."Never Say Never"....LOL!!
Those sound like great reasons to move. It would take a lot for me to move... I only tackled a few in my post for this prompt.
Too bad life doesn't come with guarantees.
Stopping by from Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.
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